International & World Report

Jean-Marc Tassetto, general manager consumer marketing at SFR and as executive committee member of SFR, would be on the start, after 13 years at number two in the French mobile phone.

It is in talks with CanalSat, another subsidiary of Vivendi and Vodafone, another shareholder in SFR payday loan . Still on the front of the stage in Las Vegas in January to promote the partnership agreement with Palm, Jean-Marc Tassetto was the main architect of marketing coups of SFR.

After the large deposits, Emmaus starts now in the "bric-a-brac neighborhood. Based in Paris at Centquatre (the center of artistic creation of 104 rue d'Aubervilliers, XIX), the first such shop opened this week. Nine others should follow in the coming three years after an agreement signed between Emmaus and the City of Paris. In these knick-knacks, buyers will always find so many clothes, furniture or dishes at any price, but small retail space will be reduced (200 to 300 m2) and * opening hours extended to better integrate neighborhood life.

So far, the association only had a Paris address, located at 80 boulevard Jourdan (XIV). For two years, more than 3,000 people flock every Saturday on the 1,000 m2 warehouse for a few hours to exhaust the stock of products recovered during the week.A success that led Emmaus to look for other sites.

It must be said that environmental awareness has boosted donations of used goods while the economic crisis has increased the number of customers looking for bargains. Across the country, 85,000 tonnes of textiles, 65,000 tonnes of furniture and 20,000 tonnes of electrical equipment have been collected by Emmaus in 2008. The resale of these products used generated 148 million euros in 2008 against 142 million in 2007. The 2009 figures should be even better.

Originality of the Parisian experience: the addresses are managed by the association Emmaus Challenge, an offshoot of Emmaus, which uses reintegration of employees and not members of the community."Large urban area offer plenty of room in emergency accommodation, but not many opportunities for employment," says Charles-Edouard Vincent, president of Emmaus Challenge. With its bric-a-brac, it currently employs 80 employees in rehabilitation and aims eventually to bar 300. An experience that is limited for now to the capital which has the largest deposits of products to be collected, and the broader population in need.

Rest now, with the assistance of the City of Paris, to find the space available to open additional stores. And also to find an alternative store to the flagship Boulevard Jourdan. This temporary space is indeed close its doors by the end of September.

* Bric-a-brac Centquatre, 104, rue d'Aubervilliers (XIX). Open Wednesday to Saturday from 15h to 18h. Receiving gifts: Tuesdays from 15h to 18h and 11h to 18h Wednesday through Saturday.Ref.: Www.emmausdefi.org or www.104.fr, under "Shops".

In a large show held at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, Guillaume Pepy, the SNCF President, presented the major innovations that the railway was completed or tested in 2009, and especially those which it has proceed in the years to come. Some of them concern the heavy infrastructure such as Highway Railway Luxembourg-Perpignan, whose rate of rotation has been doubled to four daily return. Also programmed a line Bayonne-Lille and medium-term line of Great Britain to Italy through France.

The key innovations, however, concerns the field of multimedia.And such service "station line", available on 3G phone, which lists 600 stations to allow users to know the times of departure and arrival of trains, the number of platforms, location or price of the car … In 2010, SNCF will launch a radio, a little image of FM Highway, we will receive on his mobile phone or Internet. With a team of 30 journalists, all 15 minutes will flash information on traffic conditions and disturbances. Between the flashes, there is provided a musical thread, who wants very heterogeneous because it will "attract a clientele that ranges from 7 to 77 years.

Tariff Schedule

On the website "Voyages SNCF, a tariff schedule will allow customers to better understand and especially to see ticket prices depending on the train. A first version for small prize will be available in first quarter 2010.After the air is the railway, through the barcode and card flyer, opening gradually to the e-ticket, thereby avoiding the printed ticket. Tested over 14 destinations in 2009, this service will be extended in 2010 to all France, and international relations with Luxembourg, Switzerland and Germany.

Finally, the SNCF will use the experience of Thalys on Internet connection and gradually equip the 52 TGV Est network. Thus, passengers traveling to Metz, Nancy and Strasbourg can surf the Internet while traveling. An investment whose cost is 500,000 euros per ream.

In the field of health, SNCF began to equip the trains of the TGV defibrillators. Since last summer, 150 stations have been equipped. It's now the turn of the TGV trains to the East and Switzerland. Eventually, the entire network will be equipped.An investment of 10 million euros for 2,000 defibrillators.

Forthe taxpayers with assets hidden abroad, it is too late to repent. The cell regulation introduced by the end of April Bercy for those wishing to come into line with the Inland Revenue closed Thursday at 18 hours. Reportedly, a few days before the deadline, it had treated more than 3 000 applications. On December 9, Eric Woerth, budget minister, spoke of 1 400 cases to bring back 500 million euros into state coffers. "Since the case of HSBC list started, we have achieved records, telling a lawyer a few days ago.

Still, the results obtained by the French in cell eight months paled in comparison with performance in Italy.The tax is to regulate trans 95 billion in three months! The state has recovered 5 billion of revenue, and the measure has been extended.

But in Italy, it was simply an amnesty: 5% tax on amounts settled, period. Not so in France, where the tax was due to pay (three years for income tax six years for the ISF and inheritance). The French Treasury not negotiating that penalties and interest.

20% of capital for tax

"It was interesting when he had inherited more than six years of hidden assets abroad and that you did not then fed into account. The additional tax due is three years and six IR EWB, was increased by 15% at maximum, "explains Valérie Harnois-Mussard, a lawyer with Fidal. The taxpayer could get away with leaving 20% of its capital tax.The regulation was much more expensive if the death was within the last six years, because of inheritance. And the tax rebate did nothing fabulous for those who had actively concealed funds. Another obstacle: the documents to provide the tax authorities were numerous.

This relative lack of mercy has always been assumed by Eric Woerth, who would not hear of amnesty. But his all-out offensive against fraudsters – with, culminating in its Communication on a list held by the Treasury, 3 000 people with accounts in Switzerland – has not helped to create a serene atmosphere. Households were afraid of having to undergo inspections in fiscal 2010 and subsequent years if they showed up in the cell.Some taxpayers have hexagonal even made a more radical choice: to settle permanently in Switzerland.

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The euro ended the year in small form. For the first time since early September, the single currency rose again Friday to below $ 1.43 and briefly touched a low point, on Monday at 1.4280 dollar. Last month, the euro was trading at $ 1.50 again, "a disaster," was then proclaimed Henri Guaino, special adviser to Nicolas Sarkozy, now more discreet about the changes. Once is not custom, it is fundamental to the European economy, considered worse than in the U.S., affecting the markets.

The decline of the euro began in early December with the debt crisis Greek degraded by Fitch. It widened last week when Standard & Poor's followed this movement. "The market remains skeptical about the state budget of Greece, which should continue to dampen prospects for the euro," says Jane Foley cabinet Forex.com.

Debts under surveillance

One Member State trembles, and the whole currency area flickering. Especially that Greece is not alone in worrying the markets. The debts of Spain and Ireland, which have surged with the crisis, are also under close surveillance.

Financial solidarity with countries in distress, implicitly shown by German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the European Council has not been enough to reassure markets. Even if they are all very positive news from the United States seem, by comparison, the best news for investors. "The United States are ultimately not so badly placed compared to other major world economies," says a strategist at HSBC in Hong Kong.

Overseas, unemployment has stopped growing in November, the U.S. economy could even recreate jobs in the first quarter.In 2010, all institutes ensure the growth of the United States looks twice as strong as that of the eurozone. The dollar's rise also reflects an early turning point for monetary policy. The Fed said after its last monetary policy committee that it would leave its policy rate close to zero for a "prolonged period", but it plans to turn a gradual withdrawal of liquidity from month March which will make dollar investments more attractive.

A third factor supporting the dollar this year, said Patrick Artus, Research Director at Natixis: purchases of greenbacks by the Chinese central bank is rife, Beijing had no intention of letting the yuan appreciate against the dollar …

Despite the significant impact of successive delays made the program of the new jumbo Airbus A350, the chairman of its parent, Louis Welsh, said in the columns of the Financial Times that his group will not appeal markets.

The boss of aerospace group EADS has nevertheless conceded that such delays "have an impact on cash Airbus, which suggests the London daily that the group's treasury could melt rapidly due to lower deliveries of had expected next year, raising questions about the long-term funding of new programs.

"We have over 8 billion euros in net cash. When you're in that situation, you do not request funding for your shareholders, "said Louis Welsh. The cost of developing the A350 is generally estimated at over 10 billion euros.Louis Welsh also ensures that the financial difficulties of Dubai, one of the largest customer of Airbus, will have no impact on the European group.

EADS shares evolved to equilibrium at around 11.00 to 12.37 euros, or -0.08% over the closing price last Friday at the Paris Bourse.

Since its acquisition in October 2008, the integration of Fortis was one of the great challenges of BNP Paribas. The statement released Tuesday by the French group reported cost reductions and gains from its synergies with Fortis. It is thus subject to 900 million euros in annual synergies in 2012 (against 500 million originally anticipated) and a rate of return on invested capital above 20% from 2010. The bank confirms the same time as the acquisition of Fortis will be accretive from 2010, which promises an improvement in earnings per share and 8.5% in 2012.

"These synergies are the consideration of restructuring costs estimated at 1.3 billion euros over the 2009-2011 period," says BNP Paribas, said in the same time does not predict massive forced departures at Fortis."The downsizing comes mainly from natural wastage or voluntary," says she.

The group finally confirmed in a statement to the number one place for deposits in the euro area continued to buy banking operations of Fortis.

The Belgian banking group Fortis, fully involved in the subprime crisis, was acquired by BNP Paribas when he was on the brink of bankruptcy in October 2008, barely supported by governments. This acquisition led to months of negotiations and court battles. BNP has acquired 75% of banking and 25% of Fortis Insurance, becoming the first bank in the euro area term bank deposits.

The title BNP Paribas, built in the CAC40 index at the Paris bourse, gained 2.40% to 56.31 euros to 10.30.

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There is a driver for the nuclear industry, the State. On a visit Thursday to the site of the EPR – the new generation reactor – in Flamanville (Manche), Francois Fillon has tried very firm. This displacement of the Prime Minister had been finalized at the last moment in a very specific purpose: to redefine the roles of each operator after Henri Proglio, barely reached the head of EDF, has hammered the leadership role of the public company.

We can talk about reframing. "That the State (…) is responsible for ensuring the overall coherence of this strategy to ensure that France will retain the place to be hers in the resumption of global nuclear "said Francois Fillon. While the central role of EDF is welcomed, but not from exercising a supervisory role on the track.So that Areva "is also a major player, including the integrated model (mine uranium reprocessing fuel through the construction of power plants) is not questioned.

As for GDF Suez or Total, they affirm their progressive positions in the nuclear, noted the Prime Minister."All this contributes to strengthening our credibility and aggregate supply," said Francois Fillon still surrounded by the Chairmen of EDF and Areva.

Moreover, the chief government hammered his confidence in the RPE, while this major project currently several critical towel on its cost, time of construction or security control command.

Bidding in Abu Dhabi

Alongside its political dimension, this development also involved the Matignon at a crucial time for French industry abroad, the four players mentioned above (EDF, Areva, GDF Suez and Total) are indeed united in a consortium to sell two plants EPR in Abu Dhabi. A contract that all benefits included, exceeds 40 billion dollars.However, for several weeks, rumors from the Emirates are not good: supply lights moving too dispersed to be truly effective.

That is why François Fillon sought explicit: "In some cases, the" Team France "nuclear must be able to bid combined. In others, it is better to leave one or another of its members act alone. "

Also EDF, hitherto known for the last hour in the consortium, now has a central place in the new device. Nothing says that confirmation of Francois Fillon, who promised a "new installation" to permit France to win the day: Abu Dhabi, offering Korean, much cheaper in particular, has strong arguments. Decision expected in coming weeks.

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Gold continues to see progress during his flying record after record for over a month and a half. This Monday, November 23, ounce of gold was traded on the London Bullion Market cons 1170 U.S. dollars, the highest price ever recorded on the market.

This new record was set when the confidence of investors vis-à-vis the dollar continues. On Monday, the euro gained ground against the dollar, approaching the bar $ 1.50 per euro.

The persistent weakness of the dollar encourages central banks to diversify their reserve assets, and increase their gold reserves. India and Sri Lanka have recently made massive purchases of precious metals. India has procured 200 tonnes of gold via the International Monetary Fund earlier this month.Sri Lanka's share increased its gold reserves of 5.3 tonnes in September.

The yellow metal continues to play its role as a safe haven

Although enshrined in recent weeks in a bullish pattern, the uncertainty surrounding the stock markets is another factor increasing the demand for gold. The yellow metal continues to play its role as a safe haven, especially in the period probably know that currently the world's economies, but seems even become a fully fledged investment.

"For the first time in twenty years that I see so many prestigious managers share the same strategy (investment in gold)," said Bradley Alford, the hedge fund Alpha Capital Management, Market Watch. "Some of these investors are icons of the industry, with more than fifteen years of management at their counter. He is lost in advance to play against their tendency.They have not become billionaires by making bad paris "he adds.

However, markets are unique in that a widespread enthusiasm for asset class often ends by the service, building up and then burst the bubble that this enthusiasm had itself generated.

The PC market is expected to avoid breakage. According to research firm Gartner, PC sales should grow 2.8% this year to 289.9 million units, including 162 million laptops, and 29 million netbooks (or Netbooks). Until now, the firm had already revised upwards its forecast, but each time it expected a contraction in sales. In September, he estimated that they would shrink by 2% over the year, when they had risen from 10.9% in 2008. "Sales in the third quarter was much stronger than expected," so that "we should have a positive growth this year, said analyst George Shiffler, quoted in the press.

For the full year, the increase will be paid to arm's length by notebook PCs, with sales expected to grow by 15.4%. These desktop computers will however fall 9%.The release of Windows 7, the latest operating system from Microsoft, will have limited impact on the sales season, says the firm.

But it was really in 2010 that the market will reconnect with a double-digit growth. Sales should rise and 336.6 million PCs in total, an increase of 12.6 compared to 2009. Again, the laptops will carve the most beautiful piece of the pie, with sales approaching 200 million units.

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